The Gold Leaf Quandary

Firefighters are passionate people. We take pride in the tools of our trade, from the turnout gear that’s on our back to the rigs that are parked in the bay. This passion drives us to argue about everything from tactics and staffing to, in some cases, the type of chili that’s in the station kitchen. However, recently, I found myself listening to a different kind of debate: firefighters critiquing the style of gold leaf scrolling that’s on a newly refurbished engine.

At first, it sounded absurd. Of all of the challenges of the fire service—recruitment, retention, training, funding—here they were, splitting hairs about the shine of gold leaf. After a moment, I realized: This was The Gold Leaf Quandary.

If my department’s firefighters had the time and energy to complain about gold leaf, it meant that we probably addressed the bigger issues: Calls are being answered. Training is being conducted. Equipment is maintained. Paychecks are clearing. The mission is being carried out. In other words, the foundation is stable enough that we can turn our attention to the details.

The chief’s invisible battle

What likely was lost in the members’ discussions about the gold leaf is the unseen effort that brought that engine and its gold leaf to the bay in the first place. Firefighters see a shiny rig. Chiefs see the countless hours of political navigation, budget hearings, grant writing and behind-the-scenes advocacy that was required to get it funded. Securing apparatus isn’t as simple as flipping through a catalog. It means convincing a city council, navigating competing priorities and proving fiscal responsibility to taxpayers. It means defending why a fire apparatus costs more than most homes that are in the community. It means putting personal credibility on the line so that the department gets what it needs.

When firefighters critique the gold leaf, they might not see the uphill climb that got them a rig that’s worth critiquing at all. This is the unseen side of leadership: the countless battles fought so that firefighters can focus on their craft instead of the politics.

Pride in the details

Here’s the other side of the coin: Firefighters care about the details, because they care about the job. Gold leaf, helmets, patches and apparatus design are about identity and tradition. They connect today’s firefighter to yesterday’s. They reflect the pride that we carry into the community every time that we roll out of the bay.

That pride isn’t superficial. It’s ownership. Firefighters who care about the appearance of their engine usually are the same firefighters who will scrub it clean, check its fluids and make sure that it’s ready for the next run. To them, the gold leaf isn’t decoration; it’s a symbol of excellence.

Perspective and balance

So, what do we do with The Gold Leaf Quandary? Leaders should neither dismiss it nor let it consume the organization. Pride and passion are vital. However, they must be balanced with perspective.

If firefighters are grumbling about gold leaf, it’s a leader’s opportunity to remind them of the bigger picture:

• That rig represents years of planning, negotiation and sacrifice.
• The gold leaf is the finishing touch on an investment that ensures their safety and the community’s protection.
• Although the details matter, it’s the operational readiness and teamwork inside of the cab that truly defines success.

In short, the gold leaf never is the problem. The real problem would be if firefighters didn’t care at all.

The art of fire service leadership

The next time that firefighters roll their eyes at scrollwork or debate the shine of lettering, smile. That conversation is proof of pride. It’s evidence that the department’s fundamentals are solid enough to allow the luxury of debate over aesthetics.

That said, leaders also must be mindful: Healthy pride is different from corrosive complaining. When criticism turns into constant grumbling, it can begin to deteriorate the fabric of structure within a department. Morale erodes. Trust in leadership frays. The focus shifts from mission to minutiae. What starts as a harmless debate about gold leaf can snowball into division if perspective is lost.

The Gold Leaf Quandary reminds us of two truths: Leaders often fight invisible battles to secure the resources that firefighters enjoy; and firefighters, in turn, show their pride by caring about the details as well as the mission. The challenge and the art of fire service leadership is to keep both perspectives in balance. At the end of the day, the people of the community don’t care about the gold leaf. They care about the firefighter who shows up when the alarm sounds.